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A Greek Marble Head of a Horse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

Roger Hinks
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Extract

By the kindness of its owner, Mrs. Chester Beatty, I am able to publish an interesting and hitherto unknown fragment of Greek sculpture which has recently come into her possession. It consists of a horse's head made of yellowish-white marble, fine-grained and slightly crystalline in texture. The surface is somewhat corroded in the neighbourhood of the nostrils and ears, and in places is encrusted with the earth in which the head has been buried. No parts are missing, though the mane, ears, and right eye are slightly abraded. There is apparently a trace of red paint above the right eye. The neck has been sawn across in recent times when the head was mounted. The dimensions in metres are as follows: length, 0·355; height, 0·285; average breadth above the eyes, 0·137.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Hellenic Studies , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , 1927 , pp. 218 - 221
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies 1927

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References

1 In the Louvre, F 53. Gerhard, , Auserl. Vasenb. ii. 107Google Scholar; Hoppin, , Handbk. 100.Google Scholar

2 Ausonia, 1908, 171, fig. 26.

3 In the British Museum, Cat. of Sculpture, no. 86.

4 Jahrb., 1909, 106, pl. x, nos. 9 & 10.

5 Amelung, , Führer, 276Google Scholar, no. 270; Milani, 174, pl. cxliv.

6 Cat. 171, pl. lxi.

7 For early examples see the archaic equestrian groups from the Athenian acropolis: Schrader, Archaische Marmorskulpturen im Akropolismuseum zu Athen, figs. 72–75; and cf. the slightly later bronze horse recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in New York: Curtius, in Die Antike, 1927, Pls. ix–xiiiGoogle Scholar, figs. 1–3.

8 For other instances in contemporary sculpture see the slab in the Villa Albani: Schrader, Phidias, fig. 260; or the votive reliefs in Berlin (from Oropos): Furtwängler, , Sammlung Sabouroff, pl. xxviGoogle Scholar; and Athens: Rodenwaldt, Das Relief bei den Griechen, fig. 86.

9 The treatment of the colossal horse from the quadriga is quite different: B.M. Cat. of Sculpture, no. 1002, Pl. xvi; the cheek being full and rounded, in accordance with the usual practice of the mid fourth century.

10 E.g. B.M. Cat. of Sculpture, no. 1015.

11 E.g. the Hadrianic relief in the British Museum: Cat. of Sculpture, no. 2206.

12 In the Kerameikos at Athens. Conze, , Attische Grabreliefs, 1158Google Scholar; Brunn-Bruckmann, pl. 438.

13 In the Jatta collection at Ruvo, no. 1501: Furtwängler-Reichhold, I, 38/39; Pfuhl, fig. 574.

14 In the National Museum at Athens: Ephem. Arch., 1891, Pl. viiiGoogle Scholar5 (¾ view); Jahrb., 1894, pl. iii11; Svoronos, no. 207, pl. xlii; Kjellberg, Attische Reliefs, figs. 21 and 23.

15 Pliny, N.H., xxxvi, 17.

16 Op. cit., 114.

17 For permission to reproduce copyright photographs I am indebted to Mr. H. B. Walters, Prof. Kastriotis, and the Verlagsanstalt F. Bruckmann.